“No, it’s just a simple break. The bleeding stopped, and I’m not having any trouble breathing. I’ll keep ice on it, and I should be good.”
“What were you thinking? I thought you didn’t need to punch guys anymore to feel good about yourself.”
He hung his head. “It was stupid. I just planned to spend some time with the bag, but then this new guy came in and was looking for a sparring partner. I figured I’d help him out.” He gave me a grim smile. “I wasn’t expecting him to sucker punch me. I guess that part of Levi’s story is true.”
I reached over and skimmed my thumb over his cheek, making sure to avoid his nose. “You need to be more careful.”
“I know.” He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing my fingertips. “I’m done in the ring after this, I promise. Only bags for me from now on.”
“Good.” I put the car in drive. “Back to the mansion?”
“How about the townhouse? I wouldn’t mind a little alone time with you.”
I heard the suggestiveness in his tone but ignored it. There was no way we were going to fuck while he was still wincing in pain. Because that’s what we did—we fucked. It was hot and hard and desperate between us every time. I wasn’t sure slowing down was even an option.
So, I changed the subject. “That was nice of Levi to help you out.”
“Yeah. He seems like a good guy.”
“He is. I like him.”
“You do,” Leo practically growled, and I smiled to myself. Nothing wrong with motivating a little jealousy now and then.
“Yes. He’s nice, and he keeps me entertained during our shifts together.”
“Should I be worried?”
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He was frowning but didn’t look too pissed...yet. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know. He’s a pretty dude.”
At that, I laughed. “Maybe I’m the one who should be worried.”
Leo laid his hand on my thigh and slowly slid it up and up. “The only thing you should be worried about is whether I’m going to break our current record for the number of orgasms you have in one night.”
Well, maybe we could find something to do that wouldn’t cause him more pain.
Chapter Thirty-One
Hayle
I scanned the quickly-filling ballroom for my father, and I wasn’t even sure why. Maybe it was out of sheer habit. I’d always wanted to impress him. Always.
So, why did it feel more like I was trying to avoid him than catch his attention tonight?
It probably had something to do with Thea, like everything these days. Focusing on schoolwork was the only thing that distracted me from thinking about her every five minutes. And, even then, I only made it fifteen. Or twelve.
I had little doubt that she was the primary reason I wasn’t worrying about what my father thought about me as much as usual. Finding out he’d bribed the judge in Tristin’s juvenile case to extend his sentence had been a wake-up call. Not to mention what we were still finding out about his role in Amber’s death. Oh, yeah, and then there was the fact that he’d threatened to send Thea back to Kansas if she didn’t do his dirty work.
When it came to my father, my eyes were open wider than they’d ever been before.
“How did you get out of wearing a tux?”
I turned to find Tristin heading toward me, looking every bit like he’d just walked off of a James Bond movie set, complete with the classic tuxedo and slicked-back hair. And that was exactly why I’d chosen to go the less traditional route with my slim-cut black jacket with a single, low button and dress shirt with thin black and white stripes, no tie. I would never look as good as my brothers, so what was the point in trying?
“I decided to go rogue. You should try it sometime.” Yes, that was sarcasm. Tristin already did whatever the hell he wanted, regardless of what Dad thought.
“Any sign of the girls?” He asked as he took a spot next to me against the wall.
“Not yet.” By “the girls,” he meant Thea and Petra. Though Thea was officially his escort, and Petra was mine, the arrangement was for seating at dinner more than anything. “We should have insisted on driving them.”
I’d offered, but Thea had blown me off, saying that they wanted to get ready at Petra’s house without having to worry about me and Tristin sitting around, waiting for them. Since